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2012 www.ext.vt.edu APSC-21 Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments. Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Animal & Poultry Sciences (0306) Virginia Tech, 366 Litton Reaves Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 540/231-9159 Fax: 540/231-3010 E-mail: [email protected] Virginia Cooperative Extension A partnership of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University Livestock Update Beef - Horse - Poultry - Sheep - Swine August 2012 This LIVESTOCK UPDATE contains timely subject matter on beef cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, swine, and related junior work. Use this material as you see fit for local newspapers, radio programs, newsletters, and for the formulation of recommendations. IN THIS ISSUE: Dates to Remember ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 August Beef Management Calendar ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Evaluate Nutrition Needs and Plan for Winter.......................................................................................................................... 3 Goat Day 2012 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Large Animal Emergency Response Training Still a Hot Topic ............................................................................................... 7 Sheep Field Day, 37 th Annual Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale and Replacement Ewe Lamb Sale ................... 9 Virginia Tech Sheep Center to Host 12 th Annual Production Sale September 1st ............................................................... 10 Sheep Field Day & Ram Lamb Sale Saturday, September 22 ..............................................................................................11 Sheep Breeding Season Tips .................................................................................................................................................... 12 _________________________________ Scott P. Greiner, Extension Project Leader Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences

Transcript of Virginia Tech Letterhead - VCE Publications | Virginia Tech€¦ · 26-27 Virginia Tech Small-Scale...

2012 www.ext.vt.edu APSC-21

Extension is a joint program of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state and local governments.

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability,

political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

College of Agriculture

and Life Sciences

Animal & Poultry Sciences (0306)

Virginia Tech, 366 Litton Reaves

Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

540/231-9159 Fax: 540/231-3010

E-mail: [email protected]

Virginia Cooperative Extension A partnership of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University

Livestock Update

Beef - Horse - Poultry - Sheep - Swine

August 2012

This LIVESTOCK UPDATE contains timely subject matter on beef cattle, horses, poultry, sheep, swine,

and related junior work. Use this material as you see fit for local newspapers, radio programs,

newsletters, and for the formulation of recommendations.

IN THIS ISSUE: Dates to Remember ................................................................................................................................................................... 1

August Beef Management Calendar ......................................................................................................................................... 2

Evaluate Nutrition Needs and Plan for Winter.......................................................................................................................... 3

Goat Day 2012 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6

Large Animal Emergency Response Training Still a Hot Topic ............................................................................................... 7

Sheep Field Day, 37th

Annual Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale and Replacement Ewe Lamb Sale ................... 9

Virginia Tech Sheep Center to Host 12th

Annual Production Sale – September 1st ............................................................... 10

Sheep Field Day & Ram Lamb Sale – Saturday, September 22 ..............................................................................................11

Sheep Breeding Season Tips .................................................................................................................................................... 12

_________________________________ Scott P. Greiner, Extension Project Leader

Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences

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Dates to Remember

BEEF

AUGUST

6-7 Tri-State Beef Cattle Conference. Washington County Fairgrounds. Abingdon.

Contact: Scott Greiner (540) 231-9159; email: [email protected]

OCTOBER

11-14 VA Junior Livestock Expo. Rockingham Fairgrounds. Harrisonburg.

Contact: Paige Pratt, (540) 231-4732; email: [email protected]

26 18th

Annual Hokie Harvest Sale, VT Beef Cattle Center, Blacksburg. Contact:

Dr. Dan Eversole, (540) 231-4738; email: [email protected]

HORSE

SEPTEMBER

13-16 VA State 4-H Horse and Pony Championship. Virginia Horse Center. Lexington.

Contact: Celeste Crisman, (540) 231-9162; email: [email protected]

SHEEP

AUGUST

25 Virginia Performance Tested Ram Lamb Sale. Shenandoah Valley AREC. Steeles

Tavern. Contact: Scott Greiner, (540) 231-9159; email: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER

1 Virginia Tech Sheep Center Production Sale. Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena. Blacksburg.

Contact: Scott Greiner, (540) 231-9159; email: [email protected]

22 Sheep Field Day & Ram Lamb Sale. SWAREC. Glade Spring. Contact: Lee Wright,

(276) 944-2200 or Scott Greiner, (540) 231-9159; email: [email protected]

SWINE

OCTOBER 26-27 Virginia Tech Small-Scale and Niche Market Pork Production Conference. Tidewater AREC.

Suffolk. Contact: Mark Estienne, (757) 657-6450, ext. 408; email: [email protected]

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August Beef Management Calendar Dr. Scott P. Greiner

Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

Spring Calving Herds

End breeding season early in month (if not already stopped); remove bulls

Manage 1st calf heifers separately- provide access to highest quality forages and

supplement if needed

Plan marketing program for calf crop

Line up pre-weaning vaccinations for calves to be sold value-added programs such as

VQA

Continue fly control program

Continue feeding high Selenium trace mineral salt

Continue creep grazing and grazing warm season grasses

Fertilize pastures that will be stockpiled for fall-winter grazing

Move cattle to some hay fields to give pastures a rest

Evaluate winter feed supply and options

Fall Calving Herds

Body condition score cows

Separate thin cows from rest of the herd- provide access to highest quality forages and

supplement if needed

Prepare for calving season; make sure you have all equipment and supplies

Continue fly control program

Continue high Selenium trace mineral salt

Move cattle to some hay fields to give pastures a rest

Fertilize pastures that will be stockpiled for fall-winter grazing

Market calves early in month if not already done, or continue backgrounding program

Evaluate winter feed supply and options

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Evaluate Nutrition Needs and Plan for Winter Mark A. McCann

Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

Dry conditions in the Midwest are already impacting forward pricing of by-products for the

upcoming winter. While not a done deal yet, the odds of more expensive feeds increase as the

dry spell lengthens. In Virginia, many areas have experienced dry periods which have negatively

impacted crop and hay production. July has offered spotty relief to some areas. In view of the

conditions and feed outlook, cattlemen should begin plotting strategies for the remainder of the

forage growing season. Three goals need to emphasized: 1) maximize the length of the grazing

through stockpiling and perhaps the use of annuals, 2) forage harvesting should emphasize

quality in an effort to minimize or eliminate supplementation, 3) more than ever forage testing

will be important to insure that supplementation is minimized while meeting nutrition

requirements.

Table 1 contains the estimated total dry matter needs of a 1200 lb cow over varying winter

periods. The dry matter requirement was set at 2% of body weight for ease of comparison. Hay

quality and cow stage of production will impact dry matter intake. The dry matter requirement is

also adjusted to an as-fed (86% DM) value to reflect actual hay needs. Finally, storage and

feeding waste is estimated to average 30%, the larger hay requirement listed should be of the

greatest interest since it denotes the actual amount of hay to be produced or purchased to meet

cow needs and allow for storage/feeding loss.

Table 1. Tons of hay needed per 1200lb cow for varying feeding periods

Days of Hay Feeding

1200lb cow 60 90 120

Dry Matter basis (24 lb/cow)

.72 1.1 1.4

As-Fed basis (28 lb/cow)

.84 1.3 1.7

As- Fed Basis (w/30% hay waste)

1.2 1.8 2.4

Costs displayed in Table 2 are based on the hay value of $110/ton for grass or mixed hay.

Expected hay costs are presented with and without 30% storage/feeding loss. These loss or

waste percentages vary a good bit by farm and other factors, but 30% is a conservative estimate

unless bales are stored in a building or under a hay tarp. Bale losses can reach and pass 50%

under the worst conditions of weather, bale density, time exposed and a poor feeding system.

Table 2. Hay costs on a per cow basis with or without hay storage and feeding loss.

Days of Hay Feeding

60 90 120

Hay consumed basis

$92 $139 $186

Hay consumed + waste basis $132 $199 $279

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Stretching the grazing season

The first goal should be to maximize grazing and minimize the amount of stored feed needed.

Stockpiling tall fescue is our most reliable method of accumulating forage for fall and early

winter grazing. Stockpiled forage that offers high quality grazed forage into the winter begins

60-90 days before the end of the fall growing season. That allows each cattleman to determine

the typical end of cool season grass growth and count backwards. A good rule of thumb would

be early August for northern and western parts of the commonwealth and mid-August for central,

southern and eastern portions. The addition and amount of nitrogen fertilization will have an

impact on the amount of forage which can be accumulated. In a review of stockpiled fescue

research, Moore et al, 2000 suggested a practical expectation of 10-20 lbs of additional forage

dry matter per lb of N. Teutsch, et al, 2005 reported a range 5-13 lb of additional forage dry

matter per lb of N in research plots in Blackstone and Amelia. The range in values was related to

the form of N used. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate produced the highest yields.

Urea and urea-ammonium nitrate produced the lowest yields and were the N sources most

susceptible to volatilization. It was suggested that N volatilization rather than efficiency was the

foundation for the differences. The recent price increases in nitrogen have reduced the

investment many cattlemen are willing to invest. It is important to remember that returns in

forage growth are proportional to N applied.

A second possibility of accumulating fall forage could be the planting of oats in August.

Extension demonstrations in Ohio over the past several years have found that planting oats in

early to mid-August can produce 3,000 -5,000 pounds of high quality dry matter. The oats have

been planted behind small grain or after corn silage harvest. Recommendations suggest a 80-100

lbs/acre planting rate and 40-50 lbs N/acre. We have done a little of this on the VT farms and

been pleased. Our planting behind silage harvest is later than ideal, but we have produced a

good amount of forage that has allowed us to postpone hay feeding till after New Year.

Producing quality forage and knowing it

The surges in feed costs make every unit of TDN or Protein worth more. If you have used corn

gluten feed as a supplement this would apply.

Cost of corn

gluten feed, $/ton

Lbs of TDN/t Cost, $/lb TDN Lbs of Crude Protein Cost, $/lb

Crude Protein

150 1440 .105 383 .39

200 1440 .14 383 .52

250 1440 .175 383 .65

Given this example there is quite an incentive to produce high quality forage which would not

require supplementation.

The only way to take advantage of producing high quality hay is to know it and modify your

feeding program accordingly. This is where forage testing can provide the answers you need.

Although the implications on cow nutrition are well into the future of next fall and winter, there

are a couple of advantages to sampling hay as it harvested:

- Testing results provide quick feedback as to how successful your efforts in making

quality hay were. Many times the weather and other uncontrollable factors

(equipment breakdowns, etc) spoil the best intentions. Forage testing indicates how

far from the goal the hay quality is and provides some perspective on how much rain

or maturity impacted forage quality. Many times the results exceed expectations.

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- Second, the early identification of high quality hay can allow decisions to be made

regarding storage of the hay if options are available. If limited shelter is available,

clearly the best hay needs to be in the dry.

- Third and perhaps most overlooked. Quick testing allows quick identification of

cuttings which need to be recorded for future reference. Too many times hay of

varying quality is stored together. Next winter it will all look the same when it is

covered in snow. As the above table indicates, there are major nutritional impacts on

the cow.

- Lastly, correctly matching hay and cow needs is the most efficient and least costly

method of feeding cows through the winter. Without forage analysis, many times

additional feed is provided needlessly or inadequate supplementation is provided.

For such a small part of the year, winter nutrition programs can have a dramatic impact on

annual cow costs. Decisions involving stockpiling fescue in the fall and storage of round bales

can reduce the costs of a winter forage program. Be aware that the recent large shifts in other

input costs (fuel, fertilizer, equipment, etc.) have made large changes in hay costs and potential

value. As with all economic evaluations, the inclusion of individual cost data into an enterprise

budget will add more accuracy and validity to the financial conclusions.

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If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Ann Cinsavich at (540)231-5261 at your earliest convenience.

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Large Animal Emergency Response Training Still a Hot Topic Shea Porr, PhD, Assistant Professor, Equine Science,

MARE, VA Tech

Emergency preparedness isn’t something most people think of, particularly where their animals

are concerned, until the disaster or emergency happens. In the midst of a crisis, they wish they’d

been better prepared. Even afterward, the memory of the need fades quickly and people often

still aren’t prepared when it happens again. Virginia Cooperative Extension has been working

with first responders and animal industry groups to try and encourage people to be ready before

it happens to them.

One of the programs conducted annually in Virginia is the Technical Large Animal Emergency

Rescue (TLAER) training. This year, nearly 100 fire fighters, animal control officers,

veterinarians, and horse owners from Virginia and surrounding states participated in the 2012

TLAER trainings held in Henrico and Middleburg in June. During this three-day event,

participants engaged in discussions on various topics, including animal handling and

manipulation, trailer safety and incident management, barn fire response, and how to deal with

down or trapped animals. They also participated in hands-on training in simulated exercises

covering typical emergency incidents.

Only a quarter of those participating had ever had training in handling large animals during

emergencies before this program, but nearly half of them had been involved in an incident with

one – mostly animals trapped in fences or holes, or in relation to a trailer accident on the road.

During this training, participants learned most about using not only specialized large animal

rescue gear, but also about how to use equipment that comes on most fire trucks in a large animal

rescue. They also learned how to handle animals, including where to stand and how to

manipulate the limbs safely, which increased their comfort level in being around and dealing

with large animals. Indeed, nearly three-quarters of the participants became more comfortable

handling and being around horses as a result of this training, which may facilitate a faster, more

successful rescue in the future. Comments included, “Tomas and Rebecca [instructors] are

awesome! They are down-to-earth and approach situations practically and realistically!” and

“Great class! I learned more at this training than I have in 12 years of being an animal control

officer!”

Since 2009, nearly 500 participants have been involved in 9 sessions of this training. These

events have been supported by such groups at the Virginia Horse Industry Board and the

Virginia Horse Council, as well as local and state businesses with an interest in the horse

industry. Visit www.tlaer.org for more information on this training, or contact Dr. Shea Porr at

[email protected] or your local extension office for information on programs in your area.

Thar She Blows! Hurricane Preparedness Tips

One of the best things you can do when a hurricane is approaching is to leave. If you chose to

evacuate with your animals, particularly if you’re hauling them in a trailer, be sure to leave early

– at least 48 hours before the hurricane is supposed to make landfall, in order to miss the high

wind advisories and traffic jams. Know where you’re going, and have alternate routes to get

there. Call ahead to make sure you have a place for your horses and to let people know you’re

on the road.

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Whether you stay or go, make sure you secure loose objects, such as jumps, lawn furniture, and

trash cans. Place any vehicles left behind in an open field so they don’t end up under trees or

collapsed buildings, and turn off the power to the barns and out-buildings to prevent fire in case

of downed wires. Plan ahead and have enough feed and water for your animals to last at least 72

hours, if not longer.

The biggest key is to make a plan and follow the plan – be prepared!

More information on emergency preparedness can be found at www.virginiasart.org or

www.virginiahorsecouncil.org/emergency-info/, or through your local extension office.

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Sheep Field Day, 37th Annual

Virginia Performance Tested Ram

Lamb Sale and

Replacement Ewe Lamb Sale

Saturday, August 25, 2012

10:30 AM - Field Day

1:00 PM - Ram & Ewe Sale

Virginia Sheep Evaluation Station

Shenandoah Valley Research and Extension Center

Raphine, Virginia (exit 205 off Interstate 81)

Selling 50 Performance Tested Rams and 35 Replacement Ewe Lambs

Dorset, Suffolk, North Country Cheviot, Katahdin, & White Dorper

Field Day Program to include information on Lamb Market Dynamics,

Winter Feeding Strategies, Breeding Season Management,

Ewe Synchronization, and Sheep Health

Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension and Virginia Sheep Producers Association

For a sale catalog or more information contact:

Dr. Scott Greiner, Virginia Tech (540) 231-9159

Website -- www.vtsheep.apsc.vt.edu

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this

activity, please contact Scott Greiner at (540)231-9159 at your earliest convenience.

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Virginia Tech Sheep Center to Host 12th Annual Production Sale

September 1st

Dr. Scott P. Greiner

Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

The 13th

Annual Virginia Tech Sheep Center Production Sale will be held Saturday, September

1st at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena on the campus of Virginia Tech. The sale offering will

include Suffolk and Dorset ram lambs, along with Suffolk and Dorset ewe lambs. Complete

performance data including EPDs and carcass ultrasound records are available. Proceeds from

the sale will be used to support the sheep teaching, extension, and research missions of the

Department of Animal & Poultry Sciences. Sale details and catalog are available on the web at

http://www.apsc.vt.edu/centers/sheepcenter/index_sheep.htm For additional information contact

Dr. Scott Greiner, phone 540-231-9159 or email [email protected]

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Sheep Field Day & Ram Lamb Sale

Saturday, September 22, 2012 2:30 PM - Field Day (with Meal)

5:30 PM - Ram Sale

VA Tech Southwest Agriculture Research & Extension Center 12326 VPI Farm Rd.

Glade Spring, Virginia (exit 29 or 26 off Interstate 81)

Selling a select group of 60 Registered & Commercial Katahdin rams from 13 Consignors, rams were developed on forage-based grain on grass system which

includes evaluation for parasite resistance.

Field Day Program to include information on Ram Genetic Evaluations for Growth & Parasite Resistance, Forage & Feeding Management, Breeding Season Management,

Ewe Synchronization, and General Sheep Health Topics

Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension For a sale catalog or more information contact:

Lee Wright, Virginia Tech Southwest AREC (276) 944-2200

OR Dr. Scott Greiner, Virginia Tech (540) 231-9159

Website -- www.vtsheep.apsc.vt.edu

List of Consignors: Jeff & Kathy Bielek – Misty Oaks Farm, Wooster, Ohio John Bruner – Leaning Pine Farms, LLC, Science Hill, Kentucky Travis Gilmer – Gilmer Sheep & Livestock, Nickelsville, Virginia Jim & Sally Hash – Big H Livestock, Marion, Virginia Kenneth & Connie Jessee – Jessee Farms, St. Paul, Virginia Milledge & Roxanne Newton – Hound River Farm, Hahira, Georgia J. Pete Odle – OW Farm, Nickelsville, Virginia David Redwine – Hillcrest Katahdins, Gate City, Virginia Frank Stahl – Destiny Acres, Frazeysburg, Ohio Donna Stoneback – Wade-Jean Farm, Loudonville, Ohio Larry & Lisa Weeks – Triple L Farms, Waynesboro, Virginia Lee & Cindy Wright – Rolling Spring Farm, Chilhowie, Virginia

Virginia Tech – VA TECH Southwest AREC, Glade Spring, Virginia

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to

participate in this activity, please contact Scott Greiner at (540)231-9159 at your earliest convenience.

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Sheep Breeding Season Tips Dr. Scott P. Greiner

Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

The start of the fall breeding season is just around the corner. Proper management of both rams

and ewes prior to, during, and after the breeding season is critical for a successful subsequent

lambing season.

Ram Management

Often, newly purchased ram lambs are coming off a high plane of nutrition heading into their

first breeding season (completing a structured performance test, or managed on the farm for high

growth rates to optimize maturity). To prepare ram lambs for the breeding season, rams should

be “hardened up” prior to introduction with ewes. This can be accomplished through limit

feeding grain while on pasture. The amount of supplementation will vary according to the ram’s

body condition and pasture quality, but as a guideline 1-2% of body weight will suffice to

achieve a moderate body condition at the start of the breeding season (not excessively fat or

thin). Be certain that housing and facilities provides adequate shade and ventilation so that rams

can stay cool. These principles also apply to mature rams, which may be new to the flock or

been in use for several years. Exposure to high temperatures can compromise the reproductive

soundness of rams.

Newly acquired ram lambs should not be commingled with older, mature rams either prior to or

during the breeding season. Particular care should be taken if rams from different sources (of

similar age) need to be commingled, and all commingling should take place prior to the breeding

season.

Prior to the start of the breeding season, all rams should be subjected to a breeding soundness

exam by a veterinarian. The breeding soundness exam assesses the physical fitness of the ram,

and most importantly the ram’s reproductive soundness, fertility, and capability of settling ewes.

Plan ahead to allow adequate time to find a replacement ram should an existing sire be found to

be a non-breeder.

Many factors influence the breeding capacity of rams, including age, breed, nutrition,

management, and environment. As a general guideline, ram lambs are capable of breeding 15 to

25 ewes during their first breeding season, and most mature rams can service 50 or more ewes.

All rams, and particularly ram lambs should be observed closely to monitor their breeding

behavior and libido to ensure they are servicing and settling ewes. The use of a marking harness,

rotating colors every 17 days, is an excellent management tool for this purpose. A high

percentage of remarks is cause for concern. The breeding season should be kept to a maximum

of 60 days for young rams. This will prevent over-use, severe weight loss and reduced libido.

Severe weight loss may impair future growth and development of the young ram and reduce his

lifetime usefulness. When practical, supplementing ram lambs with grain during the breeding

season will reduce excessive weight loss (feeding rate of 2% bodyweight daily). Rams used

together in multiple-sire breeding pastures should be of similar age and size. Ram lambs cannot

compete with mature rams in the same breeding pasture. A sound management practice is to

rotate rams among different breeding pastures every 17-34 days. This practice decreases the

breeding pressure on a single ram.

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Ewe Management

Some advance planning and simple management practices will assist in having a successful

breeding season. Vaccination of the ewe flock for Campylobacter (vibrio) and Chlamydia are

important for abortion disease control. For ewe lambs and ewes not previously vaccinated, these

products typically require an initial injection prior to the breeding season followed by a second

vaccination during gestation. In subsequent years, a single booster vaccination is required.

Follow product label directions when administering any vaccine. A month prior to the breeding

season is also an opportune time to trim and inspect feet on the ewe flock, and perform

preventative foot care. This is also a good time to make final culling decisions and sell poor

producing and thin ewes.

Flushing is the practice of increasing energy intake, and therefore body condition, during the 10-

14 days prior to breeding. This practice has been shown to be effective in increasing ovulation

rates and thereby increasing lambing percentage by 10-20%. The response to flushing is affected

by several factors, including the body condition of the ewe and time of the breeding season.

Ewes that are in poor body condition will respond most favorably to the increase in energy,

whereas fat ewes will show little if any response. Flushing can be accomplished by moving

ewes to high quality pastures or through providing .75 to 1.25 lb. corn or barley per head per day

from 2 weeks pre-breeding through 4 weeks into the breeding season. Provide a high-selenium,

sheep mineral free choice.

Like rams, ewes are also prone to heat stress during the breeding seasons. Prolonged exposure to

high temperatures can have an effect on ewe fertility and embryo survival. To help reduce these

embryo losses and resulting decrease in lamb crop, minimize handling during the heat of the day

and allow the flock access to a cool, shaded area.

Ram Management After the Breeding Season

Young rams require a relatively high plane of nutrition following the breeding season to

replenish body condition and meet demands for continued growth. Body condition and projected

mature size of the ram will determine his nutrient requirements during the months following the

breeding season. Rams should be kept away from ewes in an isolated facility or pasture after the

breeding season. In the winter months, provide cover from extreme weather that may cause

frostbite to the scrotum resulting in decreased fertility.